Carpe Diem

  An inaugural meeting of the Scottish Residential Child Care (Workers) Association was held in Perth on Monday 24th May 2010. With minimal organisation and advertising the event attracted almost 50 people from across Scotland with an interest in taking forward debate about residential child care.  This was followed up with a second meeting held in West Lothian again at very short notice was very well supported by staff in direct and indirect practice.  The impetus for such an association has grown over recent years, particularly among students on the MSc in Advanced Residential Child Care at the University of Strathclyde/Glasgow.
Residential child care is a complex and demanding field of practice. Yet residential child care workers lack a discrete ‘voice’. Policy decisions fail to reflect their experiences. The absence of a strong voice for residential child care and those who work in it has a negative effect on the status of the discipline. This in turn makes it difficult for residential child care workers to be the strong advocates that they need to be for the children and youth in their care. Membership of the association will be open to all those with an investment in supporting the development of residential child care in Scotland but particularly those in direct practice.
This is an important step towards improving the profile of all residential child care staff and potentially giving them an officially recognised voice. The establishment of the Residential Child Care (Workers) Association represents an important move towards social cohesion and integration. Those in attendance at the West Lothian meeting embraced the need for change and integral to this the development of a ‘voice’ for the profession. Carpe Diem comes to mind as we have never been presented with such an opportunity. In February 2008 Adam Ingram, government minister stated to the Scottish Parliament the commitment to make ‘residential care the first and best placement of choice for all those that need the service’ this government commitment coupled with the developing association present an ideal opportunity to seize the day and raise the status of residential care as a profession. The second meeting held in West Lothian made a commitment to build the association and hold a national launch event.
If any of this strikes a chord, please visit http://www.residentialchildcarenetwork/ and sign up for the group to keep up to date with developments or send an email to Scottishrcc@hotmail.co.uk
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